Haredim Escalate Against Netanyahu: Nursery Law or Dissolution of the Knesset

SadaNews - The Haredi party "Yahadut HaTorah" threatened on Monday to advance a bill to dissolve the Knesset if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not push forward the "Nursery Law" that allows for continued support for nurseries for the children of students at religious institutions. Party leader and Knesset member Yitzhak Goldknopf commented on reports about efforts to legislate a new law related to conscription, stating that his party has lost trust in government promises. He added: "We are tired of the tricks and maneuvers that aim only to create headlines." He continued, "What the government has failed to achieve in four years, it will certainly not accomplish now." He also stated that his party will adhere to the directives of Haredi religious authorities, saying: "As instructed by senior rabbis, we will insist on proposing the dissolution bill on Wednesday." These statements come hours after the "Shas" and "Yahadut HaTorah" parties announced to coalition leader Ofir Katz that they would not support government bills up for vote in the Knesset plenum, in protest against the exclusion of the "Nursery Law" from the agenda. The stance of the two parties led to the withdrawal of all coalition bills from the Knesset agenda, reflecting the level of pressure that the Haredi parties are exerting on Netanyahu. Netanyahu halted the advancement of the bill following public and political criticism directed at him. The legislation stipulates that only the mother's employment status is considered when determining eligibility for nursery cost support, unlike the current situation which requires both parents to work. The bill also proposes to separate the working mother's rights from her family members' situations, including conscription issues, which allows continued support for Haredim who do not serve in the military, despite objections from the legal advisor and Supreme Court rulings. Among the bills removed from the Knesset agenda due to the Haredi boycott is a proposed amendment to the permanent army service law submitted by Security Minister Israel Katz, as well as a proposed amendment to the local authorities law initiated by Knesset member Yitzhak Kriuzer of the "Otzma Yehudit" party. Simultaneously, Haredi protests against the conscription of religious students are escalating. The Israeli public broadcasting corporation (KAN) reported that prominent leaders in the "Degel HaTorah" party held a meeting to discuss organizing an unprecedented protest involving tens of thousands of Haredim rejecting the arrest of those wanted for conscription. According to the report, massive convoys of vehicles are being prepared to head towards the military prison, accompanied by flags and loudspeakers, aiming to slow down traffic across the country and protest against the arrest of Haredi youth who refuse conscription. The report noted that prominent figures from various Haredi parties and factions are participating in the preparations, and that Lithuanian religious leaders have approved the step, with Wednesday being discussed as a preferred date for its implementation. Earlier today, hundreds of Haredim protested at the "Gil'ad" intersection west of Be'er Sheva, blocking the main road in protest against the arrest of a Haredi youth wanted for conscription by the military police, while the area witnessed clashes after protesters prevented the passage of vehicles. Additionally, during the night, banners were hung at the entrances to some cities, including Jerusalem and Ashdod, calling on military police to refrain from entering these cities to carry out arrests of those wanted for conscription, before authorities removed some of these banners on Monday morning. Source: Arab 48